Training benefits consequent to 8-weeks of kettlebell training

This study was designed to examine the changes in aerobic capacity and muscular strength consequent to 8 weeks of kettlebell training. Seventeen subjects (9 males, 8 females) completed 1 repetition maximum (1RM) testing for one-arm shoulder press, leg press, upright row, and handgrip strength. Subjects then performed an 8-minute kettlebell VO2max snatch test to determine aerobic capacity. Testing was done before and after the 8-week training program. The 8-week kettlebell training program consisted of kettlebell snatches, swings, Turkish get-ups, and variations of the three fundamental movements. Each training session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up, 40 minute exercise session, and 10 minute cool-down. Following the training program, the experimental group demonstrated significant (p<0.05) improvements in VO2max (13.8%), leg strength (14.8%), and grip strength (13.9%) compared to the control group. No significant changes were found in the upright row or shoulder press between groups. The results show that an 8-week kettlebell training program is an effective way to improve muscular strength and aerobic capacity

Combined calculi for photon orbital and spin angular momenta

Context. Wavelength, photon spin angular momentum (PSAM), and photon orbital angular momentum (POAM), completely describe the state of a photon or an electric field (an ensemble of photons). Wavelength relates directly to energy and linear momentum, the corresponding kinetic quantities. PSAMand POAM, themselves kinetic quantities, are colloquially known as polarization and optical vortices, respectively. Astrophysical sources emit photons that carry this information. Aims. PSAM characteristics of an electric field (intensity) are compactly described by the Jones (Stokes/Mueller) calculus. Similarly, I created calculi to represent POAM characteristics of electric fields and intensities in an astrophysical context. Adding wavelength dependence to all of these calculi is trivial. The next logical steps are to 1) form photon total angular momentum (PTAM = POAM + PSAM) calculi; 2) prove their validity using operators and expectation values; and 3) show that instrumental PSAM can affect measured POAM values for certain types electric fields. Methods. I derive the PTAM calculi of electric fields and intensities by combining the POAM and PSAM calculi. I show how these quantities propagate from celestial sphere to image plane. I also form the PTAMoperator (the sum of the POAMand PSAMoperators), with and without instrumental PSAM, and calculate the corresponding expectation values. Results. Apart from the vector, matrix, dot product, and direct product symbols, the PTAM and POAM calculi appear superficially identical. I provide tables with all possible forms of PTAM calculi. I prove that PTAM expectation values are correct for instruments with and without instrumental PSAM. I also show that POAM measurements of "unfactored" PTAM electric fields passing through non-zero instrumental circular PSAM can be biased. Conclusions. The combined PTAM calculi provide insight into how to mathematically model PTAM sources and calibrate POAMand PSAM- induced POAM measurement errors

The fully residually F quotients of F*<x,y>

We describe the fully residually F; or limit groups relative to F; (where F is a free group) that arise from systems of equations in two variables over F that have coefficients in F.Comment: 64 pages, 2 figures. Following recommendations from a referee, the paper has been completely reorganized and many small mistakes have been corrected. There were also a few gaps in the earlier version of the paper that have been fixed. In particular much of the content of Section 8 in the previous version had to be replaced. This paper is to appear in Groups. Geom. Dy

How good are projection methods for convex feasibility problems?

We consider simple projection methods for solving convex feasibility problems. Both successive and sequential methods are considered, and heuristics to improve these are suggested. Unfortunately, particularly given the large literature which might make one think otherwise, numerical tests indicate that in general none of the variants considered are especially effective or competitive with more sophisticated alternatives

Default Estimation for Low-Default Portfolios

The problem in default probability estimation for low-default portfolios is that there is little relevant historical data information. No amount of data processing can fix this problem. More information is required. Incorporating expert opinion formally is an attractive option.

Robust particle outline extraction and its application to digital on-line holography

Peer reviewedPostprin

Patterns of Dental Service Utilization Following Nontraumatic Dental Condition Visits to the Emergency Department in Wisconsin Medicaid

Objectives: To examine patterns of dental service utilization for adult Medicaid enrollees in Wisconsin following nontraumatic dental condition (NTDC) visits to the emergency department (ED). Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study of claims for NTDC visits to the ED and dental service encounters from the Wisconsin Medicaid Evaluation and Decision Support database (2001-2009). We used competing risk models to predict probabilities of returning to the ED versus obtaining follow-up care from a dentist. Results: We observed a 43 percent increase in the rate of NTDC visits to the ED, with most of this increase occurring from 2001 to 2005. Within 30 days of an NTDC visit to the ED, ∼29.6 percent of enrollees will first visit a dentist office, while ∼9.9 percent will return to the ED. Young to middle-aged adults (18 toyears) and enrollees living in counties with a lower supply of dental providers were more likely to return to the ED following a NTDC visit. Among the enrollees that first visited a dental office following an ED visit, 37.6 percent had an extraction performed at this visit. Conclusions: Almost one in five adult Medicaid enrollees will subsequently return to the ED following a previous NTDC visit. The provision of definitive care for these individuals appears to primarily consist of extractions